YEREVAN — While smokers worldwide are familiar with the graphic images of diseased lungs and stern cancer warnings on cigarette packs, a massive deficit remains in the actual healthcare infrastructure needed to help them quit. To solve this systemic flaw, the international "ACTS" (Accelerating Tobacco Cessation within Healthcare Systems) program officially launched in Yerevan on October 13, 2026.

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program, the five-year, €4.7 million initiative (2026–2031) aims to permanently integrate evidence-based tobacco cessation services into the routine medical systems of low- and middle-income European countries.

A Global Consortium Tackling the ‘Implementation Gap’

The project brings together twelve specialized organizations from nine nations, including Albania, Armenia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Serbia, and the United Kingdom. Coordinated by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) in Germany, the program's local Armenian partner is the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Rather than testing whether quitting methods work, ACTS focuses entirely on how to deploy them successfully in real-world environments. The initiative will conduct a massive pilot study across 34 primary and specialized healthcare facilities in Armenia, Georgia, Serbia, and Albania, tracking approximately 1,700 patients.

"From a scientific perspective, this program addresses one of the fundamental challenges in modern medicine known as the 'implementation gap,'" explained Dr. Markus-Sebastian Martens, head of the ACTS program. "We already know that smoking cessation programs are scientifically effective. Our focus will be on how to systematically integrate them into standard healthcare systems. We don't just write documents; we directly implement and integrate this into primary and specialized healthcare settings."

Support 'Without Blame or Judgment'

In many target regions, tobacco use remains a primary driver of chronic illness and premature death. Experts emphasize that the missing link isn't a lack of awareness, but a lack of systemic, judgment-free clinical support.

"Many smokers already know that smoking is harmful; many want to quit and have tried repeatedly. What they need is practical help," said Dr. David Otiashvili, co-coordinator of the program from Ilia State University in Tbilisi. "A person trying to quit smoking needs support that is free from blame or judgment. In our countries, however, such support is often still missing from routine, day-to-day healthcare services."

The Enforcement Hurdle: Smoking at Public Stops

The launch of the program also highlights ongoing domestic challenges with tobacco control enforcement. Despite strict bans on smoking in enclosed spaces, citizens in countries like Armenia frequently complain of exposure to secondhand smoke in crowded outdoor environments, such as public transport stops.

Responding to these concerns, Mariam Mnatsakanyan, Head of the Public Health Department at Armenia's Ministry of Health, clarified that additional municipal laws are not required because the practice is already illegal. "Tobacco use is prohibited at stops that have a roof or any form of overhead covering," Mnatsakanyan stated, noting that the ongoing issue is purely a matter of law enforcement.

While citizens have previously complained about receiving fines, Mnatsakanyan stressed that strict enforcement remains crucial to protect commuters trapped under canopies. Currently, legal outdoor bans only extend to children's playgrounds and areas directly adjacent to school and hospital entrances.

The Five-Year Outlook

By its conclusion in 2021, the ACTS program plans to deliver an evidence-based model for medical smoking cessation assistance, complete with practical clinical toolkits and guidelines. This will allow regional health authorities to permanently scale these services, ultimately transforming temporary tobacco cessation assistance into a permanent fixture of everyday European healthcare.